Coupler operating mechanism



E. P. KlNNE 1,983,136,

COUPLER OPERATING MECHANISM Filed April 29, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 4, 1934. E. P. KINNE COUPLER OPERATING MECHANISM Filed April 29, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 a? peraton,

Patented Dec. 4, I934 PATENT OFFICE 1,983,136 COUPLER. OPERATING MECHANISM Edmund P. Kinne, Alliance, Ohio, assignor to American Steel Foundries, Chicago, 111., a corporation of New Jersey Application April 29, 1929, Serial No. 358,881 t "7 Claims. (Cl. 213-167) This inventionpertains to coupler mechanism, and more particularly to means for operating couplers from the side of a car.

An object of this invention is to improve the operation of couplers, and more particularly standard A R A. type of couplers, in a manner whereby the coupler can always be operated positively and easily through the medium of'theuncoupling rod.

.10, Another object is to provide simple, reliable,

efficient and inexpensive coupler operating mechanism having cooperating parts so arranged that maximum lifting force may be transmitted to the lock for facilitating operation of the coupler.

Still another object is to provide coupler mechanism which will eifect a great saving in the number of parts now in use, as for instance, the elimination of slack devices between the operatingrod and coupler lifter.

a0 Still a further object is to provide coupler mechanism which eliminates the slack therein to thereby cut down the movement of the uncoupling rod handle tomake it possible to reduce the length of the lifter arm at the coupler end so that an in- ,1 creased leverage of at least three-to-one may be obtained. t a I Yet a further object is to provide coupler mechanism so disposed as to reduce the height of the uncoupling rod to a positionwhereby the opera- 3 0 tor can exert full force to the best advantage to increase the efiiciency of operation andwhereby the handle is so disposed that it is removed from the horizontal position as much as possible to thereby decrease the liability of injury to the A different object is to provide coupler operating mechanism which will fulfill all requirements of serviceand manufacture and in which the operating handle will always seek a position such that there will be no tendency to disrupt the parts 1 nor have any relative interference with the coupled cars or .coupler parts, I i r With these and various other objects in view, 1 the invention maycon'sist of certain novel feag fifif'tures of construction and operation, as will be i more fully described and particularly pointed out in the specification, drawings and claims appended hereto. v it In the drawings, which illustrate an embodiment of the device and wherein like reference eharacters are used to designate like parts-- M Figure 1 is a fragmentary top plan, view of "one end of a railway car, showing the relationlof the uncoupling rod of the device embodying the inqvention to the coupler; r r V Figure la is a fragmentary view in cross section taken in a plane through the bracket for the fulcrum member;

Figure lb is aview similar to Figure 1a of the drawings disclosing avportion of the bracket bent to engage withthe fulcrum member to secure the same to the coupler; I V

Figure 2 is a fragmentary end elevation of the coupler mechanism shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of the coupling mechanism illustrated in Figure 1, showing the same in locked position;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary side elevation of the coupling mechanism illustrated in Figure 1, showing the same in knuckle throw position; v Figure 5 is a fragmentary top plan view of one end of a railwaycar, showing a modified form of uncoupling mechanism; t

Figure 6 is a fragmentary elevation of a portion of a modified form of uncoupling rod, particularly the handle portion adapted for use with the modification of the mechanism illustrated in Figure 5.

Referring first to the modification illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, the end sill 30 or the end of a vehicle, such as a railway car, is provided with the striker casting 32 having suitable mechanism for supporting the A. R. A. type D coupler 34 provided with the knuckle 36 pivoted thereto as at 38 and operable by, the top lifter 40. The uncoupling rod 42 is loosely supported in a s5 bearing 44 secured by the bracket 46 to the end sill adjacent the outertend thereof, said uncoupling rod being provided with a depending handle 48 which extends downwardly and is provided with a curved end 50projecting below and beneath the end sill 30. Such arrangement reduces the height of, the uncoupling rod handle to a position where the operator can exert his force to the best advantage, and as the handle is nor mally at a backward.- anglewith respect to the vertical, the handle is kept away from the forward horizontal position as much as possible, making it less liable to injure a man during couplingoperation of the cars. i

i The coupler head is provided with an elongated 10o bracket 52 having the front wall thereof spaced in relation to the coupler to provide a socket for the reception ofthe arcuate bracket 54, this front wall extending below-the side walls thereof. The arcuate bracket 54 is insertable into the socket 5 and is formed with a notch 54a adjacent its lower end, the lower portion 55 of the' front wall of the bracket 52 being adapted to be bent, as shown in Figure 1b, to engage in the notch 54d of the bracket 54 to prevent unauthorized removal thereof, and the bracket member is preferably disposed toward the car whereby to provide a bearing 56 for the rod located between the car and the lifter. The bearing 56 is preferably a loose one with respect to the uncoupling rod and is elongated to permit relative movement be tween the rod and. the bearing, especially on angling of the coupler. The uncoupling rod extends upwardly and outwardly from the bearing 44 and is bent as at 58 to provide a portion to enter the bearing 56. After passing through the bearin 56, the uncoupling rod is bent outwardly away from the car as at 60 and it is bent at 62 to pass through the eye of the lifter 40, and may be again bent as at 64 to provide a locking portion to prevent the uncoupling rod from becoming dissociated from the lifter.

In normal locked position, the parts are in the position illustrated in Figure 3, and when it is desired to move the knuckle to throw p s the handle 48 is raised upwardly and outwardly in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 3, to the position illustrated in Figure 4-, the uncoupling rod moving slightly with respect to the bearing 56, and on account of the arrangement of parts, a great force can be exerted on the lifter. When the coupler is either in knuckle throw or look set position, movement of the coupler in no way interferes with operation or affects relative positions of the handle and the coupler due to the sliding movement permitted by the bearing 44.

In the modification illustrated in Figure 5, as before the end sill 30 is provided with a striker casting 32 suitably carrying the coupler 34, said coupler being provided with the knuckle 36 pivoted thereto as at 38, the knuckle being operated through the top lifter 40. The coupler is also provided with a pocket 52 for supporting the arcuate bracket 54 extending rearwardly and provided with an elongated bearing 56. The bracket 46 is provided adjacent one end of the end sills and is provided with a bearing 44 for supporting the uncoupling rod 70, said uncoupling rod being provided with a handle 72 which may be similar to the handle 48. In this case, the uncoupling rod extends upwardly and outwardly from the bearing 44 through the elongated bearing 56 and is bent at 74 on the opposite side of the car center line and extends outwardly toward the'knuckle 36 and is bent at 76 to provide a return portion 78 passing through the eye of the lifter 40, and may be provided with a down-turned portion 80 for preventing the rod from becoming dissociated from the lifter.

In operation, the raising of the handle 72 causes the uncoupling rod to pivot in the bear-ing 56 to raise the lifter and move the knuckle to knuckle throw position. Any angling of the coupler is permitted without affecting the remainder of the mechanism by providing a loose connection between the eye of the lifter 40 and the portion 78 of the uncoupling rod, the eye merely permitting relative movement between the coupler and the lifter and also through the loose connection between the bearing 56 and rod 70. In this modification, it is not necessary that movement of translation be permitted or expressly provided for at bracket 44 as the bracket 84 may be provided on the end sill provided with a bearing 86, and the uncoupling rod 88 may be formed with a substantially U-shaped portion 90 extending through the bearing 86 and terminating in a depending handle 92, the U-shaped portion of the uncoupling rod preventing relative movement of translation between the bearing 86 and the on coupling rod while movement is still permitted at the other end of the uncoupling rod between said uncoupling rod and the coupler.

It is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited by the exact embodiment of the device shown, which is merely by way of illustration and not limitation, as various and other forms of the device will of course be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In a car, the combination of a coupler having a lifter, said coupler being provided with a socket, said socket being formed by a bracket having a wall disposed in opposite spaced relation to a portion of said coupler, a fulcrum member enter'able in said socket and being provided with a notch disposed in opposite relation to said bracket, said bracket having a portion bent to engage in said notch to prevent removal of said member from said coupler, and an operating rod supported adjacent its inner end on said member for operating said lifter.

2. In a coupler mechanism, the combination of a vehicle end sill, a coupler extending outwardly therefrom, said coupler having a top lifter provided with an eye for operation of the lock of said coupler, said coupler having a recess provided in the top thereof adjacent said lifter, a fulcrum member having an end received in said recess and being secured to said coupler, said member extending upwardly and rearwardly and having a bearing adjacent the rear end thereof, a bearing adjacent an end of said sill, and a handled uncoupling rod for operating said lifter, said rod being supported by said last-named bearing adjacent said handle and extending directly to and being loosely supported by said first-named bearing adjacent its inner end, said inner end having a crank portion comprising a forwardly extending part and a transversely disposed part extending through said eye, said transversely disposed part extending beyond said eye and having an ofiset to prevent dissociation of said rod and lifter during operation.

3. In coupler mechanism, the combination of a vehicle end sill, a coupler extending outwardly therefrom, said coupler having a top lifter provided with an eye for operation of the lock of said coupler, a bracket mounted on the top of said coupler adjacent said lifter, said bracket extending upwardly and rearwardly of said lifter and having a bearing disposed between said eye and end sill, a bearing adjacent an end of said sill, and a handled uncoupling rod for operating said lifter, said rod being supported by said lastnamed bearing adjacent said handle and extending directly to and being loosely supported by said first-named bearing adjacent its inner end whereby said rod and coupler may have angular movement relative to one another upon movement of said coupler relative to said end sill, the inner end of said rod extending beyond said first-named bearing and lifter and having a return portion comprising a forwardly extending part and a return part loosely engaging in and passing through and beyond said eye for operating said lifter and permitting relative movement of translation between the inner end of said rod and lifter, said return portion having its end iafffiset to prevent dissociation of said rod and if er.

4. In a coupler mechanism, the combination of a vehicle end sill, a couplerextending outwardly therefrom, said coupler having a top lifter proa bearing adjacent an end of said sill, and a handled uncoupling rod for operating said lifter, said rod being supported by said last-named bearing adjacent said handle and extending directly to and being loosely supported by said first-named bearing adjacent its inner end, said inner end having a crank portion comprising a part extending forwardly between said fulcrum member and lifter and a transversely disposed part extending through said eye, said transversely disposed part extending beyond said eye and having an offset to prevent dissociation of said rod and lifter during operation.

5. In a coupler mechanism, the combination of a vehicle end sill, a coupler extending outwardly therefrom, said coupler having a top lifter provided with an eye for operation of the lock of said coupler, a fulcrum member having an end connected to the top of said coupler and extending upwardly and rearwardly in spaced relation to said coupler and being provided with a bearing adjacent the rear end thereof, a bearing adjacent an end of said sill, and a handled uncoupling rod for operating said lifter, said rod being supported by said last-named bearing adjacent said handle and extending directly to and being loosely supported by said first-named bearing adjacent its inner end, said inner end having a crank portion comprising a part extending forwardly between said fulcrum member and lifter and a transversely disposed part extending through said eye, said transversely disposed part extending beyond said eye.

6. In a coupler mechanism, the combination of a vehicle end sill, a coupler extending outwardly therefrom, said coupler having a top lifter provided with an eye for operation of the lock of said coupler, said coupler having a recess providedin the top thereof adjacent said lifter, a fulcrummember having an end received in said recess and being connected to said coupler, said fulcrum member extending upwardly and rearwardly in spaced relation to said coupler and being provided with a bearing adjacent the rear end thereof, a bearingadjacent an end of said sill, and a handleduncoupling rod for operating said lifter, said rod being supported by said last named bearing adjacent said handle and extending directly to and being loosely supported by said firstnamed bearing adjacent its inner end, said inner end having a crank portion comprising a part extending forwardly between said fulcrum member and lifter and a transversely disposed part extending through said eye, said transversely disposed part extending beyond said eye.

'7. In a coupler mechanism, the combination of a vehicle end sill, a coupler extending out- ,wardly therefrom, said coupler having a top lifter provided with an eye for operation of the lock of said coupler, a fulcrum member having an end connected to the top of said coupler adjacent said lifter, said member extending upwardly and rearwardly in spaced relation to said coupler and having a bearing adjacent the rear end thereof, a bearing adjacent an end of said sill, and a handled uncoupling rod for operating said lifter, said rod being supported, at its outer end by said last-named bearing adjacent said handle and extending directly to and being loosely supported by said first-named bearing adjacent its inner end, said inner endhaving a crank portion comprising a forwardly extending part and a transversely disposed part extending through said eye, said transversely disposed part extending beyond said eye and having an offset to prevent dissociation of said rod and lifter during operation.

EDMUND P. KINNE. 

